Why community is crucial to rave culture (with Cassy)

The notion of community is a key aspect of human civilisation. Since the very beginning, humans have coexisted in groups that have been essential to the evolution of the species.

In rave culture, community is inherent. @cassyofficial has experienced community at many levels since she started out in the dance music world. From her early days integrating into her local scene, to becoming part of the family at Panorama Bar in Berlin, and building a global community while on the road. Here she explains why community is crucial to rave culture…

EXCEPTIONAL MOMENTS
If you get people together in a permissive environment, there’s always the chance that you’ll create exceptional moments. This is what life is about, the memories, the good times. We have to create these moments where we can be together and celebrate life, and each other. Togetherness is what this culture is all about.

FRIENDS FOR LIFE
Building friendships through partying is a cornerstone of rave culture. You make friends for life, they’re like family. These friends become part of a worldwide web and you’re almost never alone anywhere you go in the world.

CONNECTION TO YOUR ROOTS
For DJs, having a community is essential for keeping your feet on the ground. When you start to reach the higher levels of success, you can become disconnected and lose touch with where you come from, which is a recipe for disaster. Communities represent home.

SAFE HAVEN
Your community is a safe place, where you can be yourself and be accepted fully, no matter who you are. This encourages you to live freely, and gives you that deep sense of belonging that we’re all yearning for. Without this safety and freedom, the culture cannot exist in its truest incarnation.

ANTIDOTE TO MONEY-DRIVEN SOCIETY
It’s really sad and depressing that so much of modern life is driven by money, and disconnection. Community feeds this need we all have to be part of something. The beautiful thing about the dance music community was also that it was always for everyone. We should never lose this.